How Matisyahu Ban Backfired on BDS Backers - Opinion

[King_David]

It looked like a big coup for a small-time player when a pro-Palestinian group in Spain’s third-largest city, BDS Pais Valencia, managed to convince an international reggae festival to cancel a closing-night performance by the American ex-Hasidic star Matisyahu.

Instead, it blew up in its face. Spanish and international politicians, musicians and newspapers protested what appeared to be blatant anti-Semitism, singling out an American Jewish entertainer, demanding that he — and only he — endorse Palestinian statehood before organizers would let him take the stage, then issuing a humiliating cancellation when he refused. In the end, the festival reversed itself and apologized to Matisyahu. And on Friday morning the festival announced that Matisyahu had accepted their apology and would appear on the prestigious stage in the beachside resort of Benicassim, 50 miles north of Valencia.


http://forward.com/opinion/319583/how-matisyahu-ban-backfired-on-bds-backers/

[grossproffit]

1. Matisyahu Performs 'Jerusalem' in Spain Amid Palestinian Protests

"Some in the audience expressed disapproval when the artist took the stage, including chanting “out, out,” but many others applauded the singer, whose given name is Matthew Miller.

“Whoever you are and wherever you come from raise a flag and wave it in the air,” Matisyahu said before his closing song. “Let music be your flag.”

Later he posted on his Facebook page: “Tonight was difficult but special. Thank you to everyone who made it possible! Every chance to make music is a blessing.”

http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/319614/matisyahu-performs-jerusalem-in-spain-amid-palestinian-protests/

[Little Tich]

2. I think there are two narratives forming already about Matisyahu and the Rototom Festival.

One is where Matisyahu was a victim of anti-Semitism, but that anti-Semitism, in the form of BDS, lost. This seems to be the narrative supported by the OP. Another narrative is where pro-Palestinian bias unfairly singled out a pro-Zionist artist for his political views. That's the one I support.

I also think that he displays racist opinions about Palestinians, but that shouldn't stop him from being allowed to perform...

[King_David]

4. Nope there is only one narrative,

BDS movement has come off as being homophobic and antisemitic .

[Fozzledick]

3. 'BDS seen in the Spanish press as a violent organization' after Matisyahu uproar

Rogel said that in the Spanish media Matisyahu's performance was seen as a “victory of pluralism and music against pressure.” She explained that much of the Spanish media was looking at the affair from a particular Spanish context, and likened the BDS tactics to those used by Basque separatists, which are very unpopular in Spain.

She said opposition to the threatening tactics used against the festival spawned criticism on both the left and the right of the Spanish political spectrum.

Rogel, summing up the entire affair, said there were two primary points to keep in mind: the first, she said, was that “there is no doubt that this was a huge victory over BDS.

“BDS tried to present itself up until now as a human rights organization, but over the last week was seen in the Spanish press as a violent organization,” she said, noting that this was a significant public opinion victory.

http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/BDS-seen-in-the-Spanish-press-as-a-violent-organization-after-Matisyahu-uproar-413013

[King_David]

5. Violent is correct

Once this BDS movement placed a severed pigs head in a kosher Jewish supermarket.